CURRICULUM REFORM IN FINNISH BASIC AND GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION

1. CURRICULUM REFORM IN FINNISH BASIC AND GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION Kristina Kaihari-Salminen Senior adviser 5.5.2006

2. NEW DISTRIBUTION OF LESSON HOURSIN BASIC EDUCATION

3. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 Principles • Equal opportunities and quality of learning • Effect of pre-school education • Coherent basic education • Good basic skills • Guidance and welfare services for pupils • Pupils’ and parents’ and guardians’ rights and roles • Criteria for good achievements

4. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 Decisions and their implementation • National core curriculum for Pre-School Education 2001 • Safe and caring learning environment • Supporting learning and co-operative skills • National core curriculum for grades 1 and 2 of Comprehensive School 2002 • Continuity from the pre-school education • National core curriculum for Basic Education 2004 • Implementation between autumn 2004 and autumn 2006 • National core curriculum for the General Upper Secondary School 2003 • Implementation as of autumn 2005

5. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006An example of local curriculum design • Local authorities give municipal guidelines, supervise schools and support schools by training and guidance • Every school draws up the school curriculum according to the national and municipal guidelines • Also parents and pupils participate in curriculum design • Local education authorities decide on the school curriculum

6. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006 Elements of the school curriculum (1) • Basic values and goals for teaching and learning • Shared ideas about teaching and learning • Organising teaching and learning - Conception of learning, learning environment, principles for the selection of teaching methods - Allocation of lesson hours, language programme, criteria for pupil intake, teaching arrangements with other schools and partners

7. CURRICULUM REFORM 2000-2006Elements of the school curriculum (2) • Goals and structures for learning support and special education • Pupil guidance and counselling, individual study plan • Remedial teaching, part-time special education and special education • Preparatory education for immigrant children • Goals and structures for pupil welfare services • Welfare services, after-school activities, activities outside lessons, school meals and transport services • Goals and contents, methods and assessment procedures in different subjects • Subjects and cross-curricular themes

8. UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOLDistribution of lesson hours 2002 1 course = 38 lessons of 45 minutes = 1 weekly lesson in a school year Compulsory and specialisation courses Compulsory Specialisation courses courses Subject or subject group 6 3 Mother tongue and literature Languages 2 6 Language starting in grades 1-6 of basic education (A-language) Language starting in grades 7-9 of basic education (B-language) Other languages 5 2 16 Mathematics Basic syllabus or Advanced syllabus 6 2 10 3 Environmental and natural sciences Biology Geography Physics Chemistry 3 2 2 2 7 1 1 4 Religion / Ethics 3 2 Philosophy 1 3 1 Psychology 4 4 2 History Social studies 2 2 Art and physical education 5 Physical education Music Visual arts 2 3 1- 2 3 3 1- 2 Health education 2 1 1 Educational and vocational guidance 1 Compulsory courses 47-51 Specialisation courses, minimum Applied courses 10 75 Minimum total number of courses

9. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATIONSYLLABUS (1) • Studies consist of compulsory, specialisation and applied courses • Specialisation courses are elective courses relating to compulsory courses • The students must include at least ten specialisation courses as part of their study plan • Each upper secondary school may provide school-specific specialisation courses

10. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATIONSYLLABUS (2) • Each upper secondary school may also provide applied courses • Minimum number of 75 courses are required for the completion of upper secondary education syllabus

11. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION Curriculum Reform • New National Core Curriculum drawn up by the Finnish National Board of Education 2003 • Local curricula will be drawn up in accordance with the National Core Curriculum • New curricula was implemented as of 1st August 2005

12. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION The Curriculum Reform aims at (1) • Taking into account the changes in legislation and in society (e.g. development of technology, globalization, networking, sustainable development) • Safeguarding the existence of small upper secondary schools • Emphasising the special character of the general upper secondary education as the provider of general education

13. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATIONThe Curriculum Reform aims at (2) • Defining the aims and contents more exactly than in the National Core Curriculum of 1994 • Encouraging the schools to create study environments in accordance with the current conception of learning

14. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION Special Features • 18 subjects + student counselling • Extensive language programme • Flexible structures for: - making local decisions concerning curriculum (providers of education) - drawing up annual work plan (school) - drawing up individual study plan (student) - completing matriculation examination (student)

15. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION- a student´s point of view (1) • entrance requirements • studies • the school year is divided into 5 or 6 periods each offering different course options, no permanent groups • the student plans his/her own schedule for each period and his/her study programme with the help of a student counsellor • consist of courses which are not tied to grades

16. GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION- a student´s point of view (2) • duration • usually three years, may be completed in two or four years • assessment, examinations and certificates • each course to be assessed • general upper secondary education syllabus (minimum 75 courses) • matriculation examination